The Canadian medical system proves time and time again that it doesn’t care about women’s pain and suffering.
Despite being praised for their effectiveness, Intrauterine Devices (IUDs) reveal a deeper problem in women’s healthcare: a system that celebrates medical innovation while neglecting the pain it can cause. A small plastic birth control device inserted into the uterus, IUDs have a 99 per cent effectiveness in preventing pregnancy.
Hormonal IUDs can alleviate painful periods and reduce heavy flows. In addition, hormonal IUDs are used to treat symptoms of endometriosis and PCOS, illnesses which often cause chronic pain.
In recent years, research and personal testimonies suggest IUD insertion is more painful than medical teachings claim, yet there’s been no change in gynecological practices.
Canadian medical professionals are taught that IUD insertion is a simple, low-pain procedure—a brief pinch when opening the cervix and mild cramping during insertion. Pain, they’re told, occurs only in a small minority of anxious or stressed patients.
It’s standard practice to recommend a patient take non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as Ibuprofen, Aspirin and Aleve before their appointment, with effectiveness being called into question as a placebo in 2006 by the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology.
While medical training claims moderate to intense pain is the exception, a 2023 study by the National Library of Medicine found that low to mild pain may actually be a minority experience during IUD insertion. The study found that the vast majority of patients experienced intense (49.7 per cent) or moderate (31.3 per cent) pain. 2.5 per cent of patients reported low pain, and 16.4 per cent reported mild pain.
A 2017 research review claims that 70 per cent of women who’ve never gotten pregnant experienced moderate pain during IUD insertion. Therefore, adolescent and young adult women are more likely to experience pain.
This year, a wave of women have taken to social media to share their experiences with IUD insertions. In a healthcare system that tries to silence women’s pain, social media shows others that their pain is real. Social media is also used as a form of activism, with users demanding adequate pain management.. The local anesthetic Lidocaine should be used in the insertion process to reduce pain. A 2017 study claims that pain associated with IUD insertion was lower in lidocaine spray and injection groups.
Despite evidence suggesting the effectiveness of local anesthetics, medical practices lag. In 2024, only six Canadian clinics offered local anesthetics as a part of their standard practice for IUD insertion. None of these clinics were in Ontario.
The silencing of pain during IUD insertion is just a symptom of larger problems within women’s healthcare. A 2018 study claims there’s significant bias within medicine, with women’s pain being dismissed and often described as “hysterical” or “sensitive.”
Medical research and women’s testimonies have claimed that a significant number of women experience pain during IUD insertion. The medical community can no longer claim that pain is an outlier or a small minority. However, practices haven’t changed. The medical system sees women in pain, but it’s not urgent enough for them.
It’s time for the medical community to see that it’s completely unacceptable not to offer effective pain management options in IUD insertions.
Arden Mason-Ourique is a fifth-year Sociology student and The Journal’s Graphics Editor.
Tags
Healthcare, IUD, Medical Devices, Ontario, Period Pain
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Daniel
Great article highlighting a critical issue in women’s healthcare. It’s shocking that despite clear evidence of significant pain during IUD insertion, the standard of care hasn’t evolved to include reliable pain management. The mention of Lidocaine’s effectiveness is crucial. I was researching options and came across information about a topical Lidocaine spray like the one detailed here: https://pillintrip.com/medicine/xylocaina-spray. Given the studies cited, such as the 2017 one showing reduced pain with its use, why isn’t this or a similar local anesthetic a mandatory, offered part of the procedure in Ontario clinics? What would it take to change this standard protocol system-wide?